Camera Angles

Joanne asked a good question in response to my first post about Silent Hill 4. She asked if when the camera angles were reversed and I could only see my character from the front- if I felt more like the character or not. It is interesting the role camera angles have on the way you play. When the angle of the camera showed my character from the front and not what felt like was “behind” me, I felt like the game I turned and my character was leading me instead of me leading him. I had to trust a character, whose movements were completely controlled by me, to not lead us into danger. How does that make sense? It doesn’t- there was no way of knowing whether or not I was being led right into the enemies’ hands.
On the other hand, I found this a fascinating extra element to the game. A lot of times (playing on the easiest level at least) I have a great deal of time to prepare myself before fighting someone. I make sure I have complete health, I have whatever weapon I want fully ammo-ed up, and I will be able to take the first shot when I want to. With the camera angle facing the “wrong” direction, I had to be on guard at all times. This tactic added the element of surprise, which I had not had to deal with before. I did not particularly enjoy this element- but it was there nonetheless.
I think the camera angle I like best is when I am staring down the barrel of a gun, or at least I am holding something. When I see my whole character from behind then I feel more distant from the game. When it feels like I am holding the weapon, then I feel more in control- like the game will do exactly as I say. Obviously, I know this doesn’t make sense since the game will do what I say no matter what the camera angle- but that is the feeling I get while playing.